Improvement in rotary grain-distributers



3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

A. D. FOTE. Rotary Grain Distrihuters.

Patented Nov. 18,1'1873.

SYSheets--Sheetl A. D. FOUTE.

Rotary GrainDistrhuters.

Patented Nov. 18,1873.

IWW/0f.,

A. n'. FOUTE. Rntaryrain Distributers.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'APoLLos D. EooTE, oF BERLIN, AssreNoE To ALBERT M. HELMEE, or

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY GRAIN-DiSTRIBUTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.V 144,753, datcdNovember 18, 1873; application filed May 31, 1873.

accompanying drawings, which form part of this specitication.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary grain-spouts orgrain-distributers, whereby grain may be received from the elevatorspoutand distributed in a vessel, barge, or other conveyance by centrifugalforce, without necessitating the employment of manual labor for thepurpose of trimming a vessel or barge so laden.

1n carrying out my invention, the grain is discharged from theelevatorspout, or other source of supply, to a circular spout, dividedinto two parts, the upper of which is station ary, while the lower issupported and caused to revolve by means of a central axis mounted insuitable bearings, and is geared at its upper end with a horizontalshaft, which receives motion from a steanrengine, or other motive power.The revolving portion of the circular spout is dividedv by means ofradial partitions into a series of compartments, and at its lower endis" formed trumpet-shaped, thereby forming a series of curvedgrain-distributer spouts. Within the upper or stationary portion of thespout a conical grain-director is supported by` chains or links, orother suitable means, in such manner that, When desired, it may be drawnto one or the other side of the spout, and thereby control theparticular point at which the distributerspouts of the revolving portionof the circular spout shall be supplied with grain. The object ofcontrolling the supply of grain to a particular portion of thecompartmentsof the revolving spout is, that when the revolving portionof the spout is set in motion, and the grain is supplied thereto, suchgrain may be discharged through the curved distributer-spouts, either inequal quantities revolving portion of the grain-spout with part4 of thetop plate removed.

a represents a circular spout, divided into two parts, a] a?, at a?. Theupper part al is stationary, and is supported bybrackets a4 from aframe, b, while the lower portion a2 is supported and caused to revolveby means of theshaft or axis c, which revolves in bearings e c', carriedby the part a. rlhe shaft c is caused to revolve by means of the beveledpinion c, which gears into a pinion, c2, iixed on the horizontal shaftc3, to which motion is communicated by means of a pulley, c4, driven ubya band from a steam-engine, or other motive power. The revolving portiona2 is divided by means of the radial partitions a5 into a series ofcompartments, and at its lower end is trumpet-shaped, thereby forming aseries of curved grain-distributer spouts, a6. Within the upper part ala conical grain-director, d, is supported by means of chains d, or othersuitable means, iu such manner that, when desired, it may be drawn toone or the other side of the spout a', and thereby control theparticular point at which grain passing down the spout a shall enter thedistributing-spouts a6, and, consequently, the number of spouts a whichat a given time shall receive grain. The object of thus controlling thesupply of grain to the spouts a is, that when` the part a2 is caused torevolve the grain supplied thereto may be distributed either in equal.quantities all round the apparatus, or in any given di` rection, asdesired.

When the gram-director d is central,as shown by full lines in Fig. l,grain will be distributed equally all round the apparatus 5 but when itis drawn to either side by means of one or other of the chains d2, asshown by dotted lines d3, Fig. 1, more or less grain will c director din any desired position.

be distributed at any given point required. 'Ihe point at which graincan be distributed by drawing the director d to any given point willvary, according to the velocity of revolution of the part a2.

When it is desired to load a vessel or other conveyance with grain, theapparatus is placed in position so that the frame b shall rest over thehatcluvay, and support the revolving part a2 below such hatch Way inposition to disch argc grain into the hold of a vessel.

It will be seen that the distributingspouts a at al are curved slightlyupward, in order that the grain may be distributed throughout the holdof a ship fully up to the deck above.

.Althou gh I have shown the apparatus driven by a pulley, I do notconiine myself to any particular arrangement of gearing whereby the parta2 may be caused to revolve, as the same may be greatly varied; and, insome cases, I mount a steam-cylinder on the side of the upper part al,and connect the same With the shaft c. This, however, will be readilyunderstood by any competent engineer.

d4 are hooks, over which the links ot' the chains may be placed in orderto retain the y Levers or rods, or any other suitable means, may,however, be employed in place of the chains.

By causing the apparatus to revolve in dit'- erent directions, grain maybe readily distributed on each side of the center-board of vesselsequally, so that all .necessity for the employment ot' manual labor forthe purpose of trimming the same is avoided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, iss 1. A revolving spout for the purpose ofdistributing grain in the holds 0r other parts of vessels, barges, andother conveyances, substantially as described. l

2. A conical grain-director arranged to con trol the supply of grain torevolving distributing spouts or tubes, substantially as dcscribed.

3. A grain-spout, a, divided into two parts,

tially as described.

6. In combination with the stationary part al of a grain spout ordistributor, a, and a grain-director, d, supported by chains or othersuitable means, and capable of adjustment by chains or theirequivalents, a series of distributing-spouts, a6, supported by andcaused to revolve with a shaft, c, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I c laiin the ibregoing I have hereunto set my handthis '26th day of May, 1873.

APOLLOS I). FOOTE.

Vitn esses JAMES A. BIGGERT, Jos. Yarns.

